Tips to Deal with Burnout

It happens. You've been training for a while, and you're starting to get bored or burnt out. Here are some tips to help:

1. Change the place you run. Drive somewhere nice (Lake Youngs, cedar river trail, iron horse trail)

2. Wear music.

3. Leave the watch at home. Go run by feel rather than by data. Remember when running was fun instead of how far? how fast? how much elevation? Garmins et al are great for training, but every now and then...just run.

4. You head out for a 9 mile run, but you really aren't enjoying it. Run half the distance and re-evaluate. If you're still not into it, head home. It's ok to fall off the program a bit.

5. Run with a friend(s). You've got a running group now. Try to get someone to run with you on the days we don't meet.

6. Run point to point. If you can have someone pick you up somewhere, it is psychologically easier to run to something rather than to circle around / do an out and back.

7. Cross train. Biking hills, skate skiing, cross country skiing, swimming etc: any cross training cardio that gets your heart rate up is a good substitute for a run day.

8. Run less. If you do cross train, you can get away with 2-3 days of running a week and still be able to do half and full marathons.

9. Pamper. Look at the schedule to a day when there is a long, hilly run. Schedule a massage for later that day.

10. Eat. Sounds obvious, but are you eating pre-workout too? Are you making sure to carry a gel with you to keep you going?